Teach Them Jesus with Building Bricks
Jesus Calms the Storm: Trust
Mark 4:35-41; Mark 5:1; Psalm 56:3 New Testament PrincipleTrust
One evening, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let us cross to the other side." They got into a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was tired, so He fell asleep on a cushion. Then a huge storm came. Waves crashed into the boat and filled it with water. The disciples were terrified. "Teacher, don't You care that we are dying?" Jesus got up and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The wind stopped, and it was perfectly calm. Jesus had said they would reach the other side, and they did. Trust means depending on Jesus and His word, even in a storm.
Trust means depending on Jesus and what He says, even when things around us are scary. He is stronger than any storm, and His word never fails.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”
Psalm 56:3 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s character
In the Old Testament, only God rules the raging sea and stills its waves (Psalm 89:9; 107:28-29). In the boat, Jesus did exactly that. The disciples asked, "Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" (Mark 4:41). The answer is that Jesus is God the Son, through whom all things were made and hold together (Colossians 1:16-17). He is the same today (Hebrews 13:8), so we can trust Him.
Mark 4:41; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 13:8
The Big Story · Redemption
God made the wind and the sea, and He rules over them. When Jesus came, He did what only God can do. He spoke, and the storm obeyed. The same Jesus later faced the biggest storm of all, the cross, to save us. Because He rose again, we can trust Him with every storm in our lives.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Where are we going?
- Ellie’s Lab (science experiment): Will it float?
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Cross to the other side
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
I trust Jesus in the storm!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Wind and waves, be still!, Color the calm sea
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
One evening, Jesus said, "Let us cross to the other side." He got into a boat with His disciples and fell asleep on a cushion. A big storm came. Waves splashed in, and the boat filled with water. The disciples woke Jesus up. He said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The storm stopped, and they made it to the other side, just as Jesus said. Trust means we depend on Jesus and what He says, even when we are scared.
Start here
Do "Where are we going?" Push the brick boat across the table through the "waves." Say, "I said where my boat was going, and it got there! Listen for what Jesus says before His boat ride."
Bible story 6 min
All day long, Jesus taught a big crowd by the lake. When evening came, He said to His disciples, "Let us cross to the other side." So they got into a boat. Other boats came too.
Jesus was very tired. He lay down in the back of the boat and fell asleep on a cushion.
Then a big wind came. The waves got higher and higher. They crashed over the sides. Water filled the boat! The disciples bailed and bailed, but the water kept coming.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Build the boat and the storm 10 min
You’ll need: A tub of building bricks, Baseplates, Minifigures or small brick people
- Pairs build the fishing boat from the build guide and set it on the stormy sea.
- Lay a Jesus minifigure in the back of the boat. Rock the boat and add "waves" of blue and white bricks.
- Stand Jesus up. Everyone says, "Silence! Be still!" Take the waves away. Sail the boat to the other side.
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3rd – 4th grade
At evening Jesus told His disciples, "Let us cross to the other side." On the Sea of Galilee, a fierce storm came up. The waves broke over the boat until it was nearly swamped, while Jesus slept on a cushion in the stern. The disciples woke Him, and He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" It became perfectly calm. Mark tells us that they arrived on the other side, just as Jesus said. Trust means depending on Jesus and His word, even in the middle of a storm.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: What Jesus said, what happened, Cross to the other side
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at school, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
After a long day of teaching, Jesus said, "Let us cross to the other side." A fierce storm swept down on the Sea of Galilee. Waves broke over the boat until it was nearly swamped, while Jesus slept in the stern. When the disciples woke Him, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" It became perfectly calm. The disciples asked, "Who is this?" In the psalms, only God rules the sea. And Mark records that they arrived on the other side, just as Jesus said. Trust means depending on Jesus and His word when the waves are loud.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Who rules the sea?, My storm, His word
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at school, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
More lessons on Trust
The same principle in other Bible stories.
In the BeginningGod Provides a LambGenesis 22:1-19God tested Abraham, then provided a substitute in Isaac's place, a picture of Jesus, the Lamb God provides for us.Old TestamentTrust
Thanks Before the Rescue: Paul in the StormActs 27:13-44; Luke 22:19Paul was a prisoner on a ship to Rome when a terrible storm hit. For two weeks the sailors saw no sun or stars, and everyone gave up hope of being saved. But God sent an angel to tell Paul that everyone on board would live. Paul told them, "Take courage, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me." Before dawn on the fourteenth night, with no land in sight, Paul took bread, gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it and ate. Everyone was encouraged, and in the end all 276 people reached land safely. We can trust God's promises and thank Him even before the rescue comes.New TestamentTrust
Big Feelings: Taking Them to GodBig Feelings: Fear1 Samuel 21:10-22:1; Psalm 34:1-8; Psalm 56:3-4; Hebrews 2:14-15David had once beaten the giant Goliath. But when King Saul was trying to kill him, David ran to the enemy city of Gath, Goliath's hometown. When people there recognized him, David was very afraid. He pretended to be crazy so they would let him go, and God rescued him. Afterward, David wrote, "I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears." Fear is a big feeling we can take to God. When we're afraid, we can trust Him.Old TestamentTrust
Kings and ProphetsDavid and Goliath1 Samuel 17:1-51; 1 Samuel 16:1-13God saves His people by His own power, through the champion He chooses.Old TestamentFreeTrust
Elijah and the Widow1 Kings 17:1-16; Luke 4:25-26During a long drought, God fed Elijah with ravens by a brook. When the brook dried up, God sent him to a poor widow with only a little flour and oil. She trusted God's promise, and her flour and oil never ran out. God takes care of people who trust Him.Old TestamentTrust
Jairus’s Daughter and the Woman Who Touched JesusMark 5:21-43Jairus begged Jesus to come heal his dying daughter. On the way, a sick woman touched Jesus' cloak and was healed, and Jesus stopped to talk with her. Then news came that the girl had died. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; just believe." He took her hand, and she got up! We can trust Jesus even when it seems too late.New TestamentTrust